CHAPTER XVIII. Some more particular Directions how to order our Lives by the Love of JESUS. ROM the happy and safe cloister of love, FRO upon that world that lies in wickedness; "Follow Read the lives of primitive saints, and consider them that are now truly religious and good men. Converse with them, and with them learn to spend thy time carefully and well. Time is short and precious; spend it upon that which will turn to account when time shall be no more. It leads to an endless eternity, and it is given thee to make that eternity infinite in happiness, as in duration. Indulge not then in idleness, for it will bring temptations upon thee, and make them prevailing. Labour, watchfulness, and prayer, make us victorious over sin, and win the incorruptible crown. Use all means whereby thou mayest be advanced in thy way to Heaven; thou canst never work out thy salvation with too much care and diligence. 'Tis good to make sure work in so great a concern; for multitudes perish through carelessness and presumption; and the way to Eternal Life is straight and narrow. But in the use of such means as I recommend, take heed of deceiving thyself, and resting in outward. observations; making that the end which is only a way to lead thee to virtue. Thou mayst carry thy Bible about, and read the Gospel, and yet not be a good Christian. Thou mayst go up to the Temple to pray, fast and give alms, and profess the greatest strictness with the Pharisee, and yet still be a hypocrite, except thou dost truly love God. Love therefore, and often think that thou shalt die; for that will much increase thy diligence and thy sincerity. Many in the Church of Rome put on when they die a Friar's habit, and much confide therein: do thou put on by times thy dying thoughts; consider seriously; and steal time as often as thou canst, to sequester thyself from the world. GoD's secret Voice is not heard in the crowd, and no man meditates in the market. Retire and think of Death, and put on the affections of a penitent; humility, shame, and sorrow for thy past follies; care and watchfulness for that rest of time which GOD gives thee to destroy thy sins, and save thy soul. S. Austin, on his death-bed, would always have the Penitential Psalms, saying that every Christian must die a penitent. So must he live, that would live well; for contrition and mortification will make thee charitable and contented; will make thee despise the world, and choose the best and safest course of life-which if something hard at the first will soon by use become easy. When men have an opportunity to eat and drink, to obtain profit or pleasure, they seldom neglect it, and put if off to uncertain delays: Now thou canst, if thou wilt, serve GOD, shew thy love to JESUS, and make sure of Heaven. Defer it not till time be past, or be worse. Think what thou wouldst advise thy friend to do, and do thou act accordingly. Often think upon thy reward, and look up to heaven. Hope sets the world at work. Jacob's drudgery fourteen years seemed but a few days to him, because he had Rachel before his eyes, and loved her affectionately. Gen., xxix., 30. All is not to be done to-day: go on in the way of love and duty. Our life is a course, not a leap; therefore faint not, and be not displeased with thyself, if thou hast not yet done what must not be finished, till thy life be so. S. Anthony's impatience was thus reproved and cured by an angel:-"Work now, afterward pray, then refresh thy wearied nature; and after that, return again to thy labour and devotion. Let this be thy course all thy way, and salvation shall be thy end." Thus, betwixt grace and nature, betwixt labour and religion, distribute thy time: and in all these, let the love of JESUS accompany and direct thee, and it will certainly bring thee to |